Emily Arlott is among those cricketers who spent years grinding it out in the domestic circuit before finally breaking through to the international stage. Her journey began in Herefordshire, where she was introduced to cricket through the Chance to Shine programme at Much Marcle Primary School. From there, she took her first steps in age-group cricket with Eastnor Cricket Club before moving on to Ledbury and Pershore. By 2013, at just 15, she was ready for county cricket and made her debut for Worcestershire Women, quickly becoming one of their most reliable wicket-takers.
Her rise gathered pace when, in 2020, she was among 41 female cricketers across the country awarded a professional contract under the newly formed regional structure. Unlike the first wave of retainers handed out midway through that summer, Arlott had to wait until the end of the season for her opportunity, but it marked a turning point in her career. Her progress was further rewarded when she was picked up by Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, where she showcased her ability in the shorter format on a bigger stage. England selectors soon began to take notice. Arlott was named in the Test and ODI squads for the India series in 2021, though she did not make her debut then.
A call-up to the Test squad against South Africa in 2022 followed, but illness kept her from making her first appearance. For a while it seemed her chance might have slipped away, but Arlott kept working hard in domestic cricket. The long wait for an England cap finally ended in May 2025. Within the span of 10 days, she debuted in both T20Is and ODIs. Her ODI performances in particular drew attention in a World Cup year, and the selectors showed their faith by backing her ahead of an experienced name like Kate Cross.
